Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

BLACK IS KING: MUSICALLY SO!

By Macford Sibandze | 2020-08-05

Though the gruesome episode, that shook the entire musical world, happened some 30 plus years ago; when I was just an insignificant, inquisitive, starry eyed, street-smart lad from Fairview, I could still feel the sore tearing my heart apart as if it occurred yesterday evening!

How can such a disaster happen? I asked God!

Why Lord? In my small heart of hearts, I feel there are things that God should not allow the devil to make happen! Because they give glory to him (devil) as if the cunning and despicable witch is a smart chap!

“American musician Marvin Gaye shot dead by father.” My God! “This is not true! This must not happen. This should not happen!” I muttered to myself.

MARVIN GAYE

But it had happened! Marvin Gaye’s blossoming career was cut short by two mad bullets-one at close range from an enraged father due to an unresolved family feud!

The prince of Motown Soul music whose talent as a producer, composer, fashionista and sex symbol showed even the doubtful of Thomases that Black is King, musically so!

What a waste! He was just 45 and died on April Fool-1 April (1984)-a day before he celebrated his birthday on the 2nd of April!

AFFECTED

The question is how did the death of an American superstar-thousand miles away affect a 14-year-old juvenile from the stick and mud shacks of Fairview?

The answer is simple! If you think this generation is usurped by American music wait until you hear our own stories!

The ‘Americanization’ process did not come to town this year with COVID-19! No!

It is as old as time! Through music we were ‘Americanised’ as the radio dished 99 per cent American music! We are a generation that enjoyed a frenzy diet of American music and it was short of being injected into our blood!

GREATS

We listened to greats such as BB King (The trill is gone), Tina Turner (Simply the best-Oh God she was),Teddy Pendergras, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Chakakhan, Michael Jackson, Barry White, Boney M, Isaac Hayes, Millie Jackson, Kool and the Gang.

There was also the O’ Jays, Manhattans, Shalamar (Make that move), Temptations, Commodores, Lionel Richie, etc. I have deliberately listed Black musicians (with the exception of Michael Jackson-LOL) to underpin the fact that Black is King.

TICK

Back to Marvin Gaye! What made him tick was that he died at the pinnacle of his career-a year after releasing ‘Sexual Healing,’ which became an instant golden hit in all entertainment arrays! The song made him to reach out to the 80s audience and marry it to the audience he had in the 70s with classic songs like ‘Let’s Get It on’ which forms part of the 100 Billboard songs that never cease to appeal to all generations.

Gaye had also remixed ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’ and gave it his soulful self so much many thought it was originally composed by him!

BLACK IS KING

This article is not about Marvin Gaye per se-a musician I loved and worshipped. It is about the success of Black Americans in the music industry! And that in the face of racial segregation Black Americans could not be stopped even white Americans knew they could do nothing but embrace the massive talent!

GENERATION

Every generation had (has) its own Black superstars! In 1967 Loui (s) Armstrong mesmerised and hypnotized the whole world with “What A Wonderful World.”

This classic, to this date, forms part of top class music circulations in top hotels, airports and sophisticated places in the world!

Loui(s) Armstrong was a Black king and still reigns many years after his departure from this world. “This is a man’s world.” Roared James Brown! He is also remembered by ‘I feel good.’ Controversial Brown is a perfect example of rags to riches through talent! The Godfather of Soul just like Barry White reigned for more than 5 decades.

QUINCY JONES

Quincy Jones is music royalty-most influential in cultural industries! Besides giving Michael Jackson wings to fly, he has produced not only music but movies and film scores!

Together with Harry Belafonte they used their influence to speak against racial segregation in both the US and SA.

Steve Wonder, (Is she not lovely, I just called) Ray Charles, Broke Benton, etc, these are legends. Steve Wonder together with Elton John, Dione Warwick (composer) and Gladys Night did magic in . ‘That’s what friends are for.’

MICHAEL JACKSON

Mr. Jackson influenced a whole generation with iconic songs (fashion and dance) that are still trending even today. Tupac Shakur might have died 24 years ago, but is still topical to many Rapper hopefuls. He left a mark in the sands of time!

There was a time when ‘everywhere you go’ there was Whitney Houston. The star came to the country at the peak of her career-a blockbuster movie and two albums!

TRACY CHAPMAN

The year 1988 belonged to Tracy Chapman. The 24-year-old (at the time) brought the house down literally and her debut album bagged three Grammy awards. Suddenly she became the most sought after musician!

From performing to less than 100 ‘full house’ bars/restaurants, she performed to 90 000 crazy fans in stadiums. She holds the record of having done collaborations with different top class musicians-everyone wanted a piece of her!

Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti, BB King, Bruce Sprinsten, Ziggy Marley, etc.In a way she eclipsed Joan Armatrading who was a giant in her own right at the time!

KELLY

Then there was a generation of R. Kelly-the most talented of his era! For more than 30 years, the world was in his pocket! I believe if he wishes-even in jail Mr. Kelly can produce hits after hits! He ruled with greats such as Brandy. Aliayaah, TLC, All4One, Duece, Eve, etc.

BEYONCE

Then we have the generation of Destiny’s Child which was headlined by Beyonce with Kelly Rowlands and Michelle Williams.

As a solo artist Beyonce has achieved more than any of her peers! Even today she is the one who inspired me with the title of the article; Black is King!

As usual Beyonce has outdone herself with this composition! Ignore the critics-if your name is Beyonce everyone has a right to your life! In the song/series featuring South African heavyweight playwright, John Kani, she catalogues the success of Blacks in diverse artistic spheres.

RIHAHNA

Rihahna, currently the richest female artist of has a tendency to producehits that ‘takes away the breaths of the youth and clubbers!

She never disappoints and gives attention to details. So is Dr.Dre, J-Z, P. Diddy, Chris Brown, Drake, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nicky Minaj-the rapper holds the title of having won the BET Awards more than any artist.

JOHN LEGEND

I am serving the best for last. I can be wrong as I always am, anyway, but I believe John Legend is king-a living legend! He brings the past to the present and reminds one of old superstars like Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye!

This makes him to appeal to both young and old! If you grew up loving soul music there is no way you cannot fall in love with Legend’s soulful voice!

Legend is also relevant to the Hip Hop generation as in most of his songs he includes some rappanyana! That has been his killer punch. But he wittingly sticks to his original script of being a ‘soul provider.’

RIGHT

So Beyonce is right Black is King! And there is no better time for the ears of the world to hear this message than now!

Blacks are tired of being second class citizens in white privileged countries like the US and UK!

They want to find their place in the sun and are prepared to die if it need be!

They have shown their talents and as the article articulately illustrates! The question is,what more should they do?

And is the massive talent in music not enough to show that Black is King-not only in music but in everything they touch!

share story